Benjamin w



(No Model.) B. W. LYON.

STATION INDICATOR.

No. 385,314. Patented June 26, 1888.

IN. PETERS. Phagnuum n w. Washingkm. 0. c.

Unrnn TATES BENJAMIN WV. LYON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,314, dated. June26, 1888.

Application filed April 2, 1888. Serial No. 9.69.360. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN \V. LYON, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement inStation-Indicators; and I hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of stationindicators in which aribbon bearing the names of the streets or stations or other matter iscaused to travel periodically by means of power derived from the contactof suitable mechanismwit-hlugsorobstructionsin the road bed; and myinvention consists in a novel automatically-operating pneumaticmechanism, by which the power is transmitted to the indicator, and in anovel arrangement of the ribbon-driving mechanism within the box orcasing of the indicator, all of which Ishall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effectivestation-indicator and advertising medium to be used upon steam andstreet cars and in other suitable places.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the figure is a vertical sectionof the indicating apparatus and a side elevation of the power mechanism.

A is the box or casing, which is situated in any convenient positionwithin the car, and having a window at its front, through which theperiodically-traveling ribbon B may be seen and the names of the streetsand stations and the advertising or other matter observed. XVithin thecasing or box, at itslower portion,is a drum, 0, to which one end of theribbon is attached, and in the upper portion of the box is a drum, D, towhich the other end of the ribbon is attached. Pivoted at 6 within thecasing is a bearing, E, in thc'free end of which is journaled a shaft,f, which carries the driving-drum F, which rests and operates in contactwith the top of the lower drum, 0. Pivoted at g is the bearing G, inwhich is mounted an idler-druin, H, which rests and operates between andin contact with the drivingdrum F and the upper drum, D, said idlerbeing adjusted to position by means of the setscrew operating againstthe box of the drum. The course of the ribbon B is from the lower drumoutwardly to the guide-roller I, thence upwardly to the secondguide-roller, v3, and thence downwardly around the driving-drum F andbetween it and the lower drum, and thence-around the idler-drum andbetween it and the upper drum, and thence around said upper drum to theguide roller i and down around another guide-roller, 1 to its point ofattachment with the upper drum. The general object of this arrangementof drums for directing the course of the ribbon is to avoid theinaccuracy of movement which is found in indicators where the main drumsare geared together and the power is applied to the cen' ter of one ofthe drums, which inaccuracy is due to the constantly-increasing diameterof the drum on which the ribbon is winding and theconstantly-decreasingdiameter of the drum from which it is unwinding.

Instead of what is known as a center drive, my arrangement provides fora surface or rim drive by making the drum F the driver of the ribbon andby providing for the constant frictional contact of the drums throughthe driver and the idler,both of which, being mounted in swinging orpivoted bearings, as described, yield to the continuous diametricalchanges of the main drums, being en abled to move up or down, accordingas the upper or lower drum increases in diameter, or the reverse, as theribbon winds or unwinds from each. Thus a given movement of thedriving-drum imparts a given movement to the ribbon at all times andindependentof the main or winding drums.

J is the truck of the car, which supports the plank j, on which islocated an air-cylinder, K, provided at its end with an inwardlyswingingvalve, 7t. Within the cylinder is a piston, L, the rod Z of whichextends through the open end of the cylinder, and is connected with theupper end of a bent or elbow lever, M, pivoted at its angle at the pointm, and having its lower arm adapted to come in contact with a fixed lugor obstruction, Z, in the road-bed. Supported on the floor of the car isan air-cylinder, N, having a closed end provided with a valve, n, andconnected at said end by means of a pipe, 0, and suitable couplings withthe end of the lower cylinder, a cock,o,control1ing the admission of airthrough said pipe into the upper cylinder.

Within the cylinder N is the piston P, the rod 1) of'which extendsthrough the other end of the cylinder, and is provided with a rack, 11,which meshes with a gear, Q, mounted loosely on a shaft, q, and adaptedto rotate said shaft in one direction by means of pawls q engaging witha ratchet, Q2, on the shaft. A cha1n-pnlley,q is also fixed to saidshaft, over which the endless chain R passes upward to a chain-pulley,r, on theshaftf of the driving-drum F in the casing above.

S is the cut-off rod. of the upper cylinder, N, the rear end of the rodbeing connected with the discharge-valves at the end of the cylinder,and having the stop 8 on its other end,with which an arm, 12 of thepiston'rod 12 comes in contact on its forward stroke, in order to effectthe cutoff at the proper time.

Uis a spring about the piston-rod 19, for returning the piston P afterit has completed its stroke, and V are springs connected by thecross-head vwith thepiston-rod Z of the lower cylinder, K,whereby itspiston L is returned.

The bent lever M, the end of which is adapted to come in contact withthe fixed lug or obstruction Z in'the road-bed, has its fulcrumin abracket, W, the rear end of which 1s rounded, so as to provide a bearingon which it may turn through an arc in a verticalplane, said end beingbolted to a fixed portion, Y, of the car-truck. A hanger or bolt, w, issecured at its lower end to the bracket WV, and has its upper endthreaded and passing through a fixed portion, y, of the car-truck above,and receiving nuts w,whereby the bolt may be adjusted up and down tomove the bracket NV and adjust it according to the wear of the truck, soas to keep the bent lever M in proper position.

The operation of the indicator is as follows: The lower arm of the bentlever M, coming in contact with the fixed lug or obstruction Z in theroad-bed, is forced upwardly, thereby throwing its upper arm backwardly,and

- through the connecting pistonrod Z drawing the piston L toward the endof the cylinder, whereby air is drawn in through the valve is. Thecontact of the lever with the lug in the road-bed is sufficient to drawback the piston against the power of the springs V; but as soon as thiscontact ceases the springs throw the piston forward again, whereby theair within the cylinder is forced through the pipe 0 into the uppercylinder, N,thus starting its piston 1? upon its forward stroke. Thismovement of the upper piston effects through the rack 10? on the end ofits piston-rod the rotary movement of the gear Q, the pawls q of which,engaging with the ratchet q causes the rotation of the shaft g, which,through its chainpulley g and endless chain R and the chainpulley 1' inthe indicator above, effects the rotation of the driving-drum F. Thisrotation of the driving-drum causes the movement of theindicating-ribbon, as heretofore described. WVhen the piston P hasnearly reached its forward stroke, the cut-off takes place, and

thereupon the spring U returns it to its normal position, this movementbeing permitted through the loosely-mounted gear Q on the shaft q.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a station-indicator, the lower andupper winding-drums and the indicatingribbon attached to each, incombination with the driving drum for the ribbon, and operating on theperiphery of one of the winding-drums, the idler-drum operating betweenand in contact with the driving drum and the other winding-drum, andmeans for operating the driving drum, substantially as herein described.

2. In a station-indicator, the lower and upper windingdrums and theindicatingribbon attached to each, in combination with the driving-drumfor the ribbon, mounted in a swinging bearing and operating on theperiphery of one of the windingdrums, the idler drum mounted in aswinging bearing and operating between and in contact with thedriving-drum and theperiphery of the other winding-drum, and means foroperating the driving-drum, substantially as herein described.

3. In a station-indicator, the lower andupper winding-drums, theswinging drivingdrum operating on the periphery of thelower main drum,and the'swinging adjustableidlerdrum operating between and in contactwith the driving-drum and the periphery of the upper winding-drum, incombination with the indicating-ribbon.attached at each end to thewinding-drums and passingin connection with the driving drum and theidler-drum, and suitable guide-rollers for directing its course, and anendless chain for operating the drivingdrum, substantially as hereindescribed.

4. In a stationindicator, the lower windingdruin, the upperwinding-drum, and the indicating ribbon attached to both, in combinationwith the pivoted bearing E, the shaftf in said bearing, the driving-drumon the shaft, and the chain-pulley and endless chain by which the shaftis rotated, the swinging bearing G, the idler-drum mounted in saidbearing, and the adj listing-screw for said idler-drum, all arranged andadapted to operate substantially as herein described.

5. In a station-indicator, and in combination with the indicatingmechanism, the means for operating it, consisting of a pivoted lever forcoming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in the road-bed, anair-cylinder supported on the car-truck, a reciprocating piston thereinconnected with the lever, whereby it is operated, and connectionsbetween said cyl- 1 inder and the indicating mechanism, by which the airin the cylinder is made to effect the operation of the indicator,substantially as herein described.

6. In a station-indicator, and in combination with the indicatingmechanism, the means for operating it, consisting of a pivoted lever forcoming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in the road-bed, avalved aircylinder supported on the car-truck, a piston thereinconnected with the lever, whereby it is moved in one direction to drawair into the cylinder, springs for returning the piston, whereby the airis forced out of the cylinder, and connections between the cylinder andthe indicating mechanism, by which the air is made to effect theoperation of the indicator, substantially as herein described.

7. In a station-indicator, and in combination with the indicatingmechanism, the means for operating it, consisting ofa pivoted lever forcoming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in the road-bed, anair-cylinder sup ported on the car-truck, and reciprocating pistontherein connected with the pivoted lever, a second air-cylinder betweenthe first cylinder and indicating mechanism, having the reciprocatingpiston and communicating with the first air-cylinder, and gearingbetween the piston of the second air-cylinder and the indicatingmechanism, whereby the latter is operated, substantially as hereindescribed.

8. In a station-indicator, and in combination with the indicatingmechanism, the means for operating it, consisting ofa pivoted lever forcoming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in the roadbed, avalved air-cylinder adjacent to said lever, a piston therein connectedwith the lever, whereby it is moved in one direction to draw air intothe cylinder, springs for returning the piston, whereby the air isforced out of the cylinder, a second valved air-cylinder between thefirst cylinder and indicating mechanism and communicating with saidfirst cylinder, a piston therein moving forward under the air'prcssure,a spring for returning it to position, and gearing between the piston ofthe second air-cylinder and the indicating mechanism, whereby the latteris operated, substantially as herein described.

9. In a station indicator, and in combination with the indicatingmechanism, the means for operating it, consisting of the pivoted lcverfor coming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in the road-bed,the air-cylinder on the car-truck, with the reciprocating pistonconnected with the pivoted lever, the second air-cylinder on the floorof the car, with reciprocating piston and piston-rod and communicatingwith the first air'cylinder, a rack on the piston-rod of the secondair-cylinder, a gear meshing with the rack, a shaft carrying thegearandhavingachain-pulley, and an end less chain from said pulley to thedrive-pulley of the indicating mechanism, substantially as hereindescribed.

i 10. In astationindicator, and in combina tion with the indicatingmechanism, the means for operating it, consisting of the pivoted le verfor coming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in the road-bed,an air-cy1inder near the lever, with reciprocating piston and piston'rodconnected with said pivoted lever, a second air-cylinder between thefirst cylinder and indicating mechanism, with reciprocating piston andpiston-rod and communicating with the first air-cylinder by a pipe, the

rack 011 the end of the piston-rod of the secondair-cylinder, a gearmeshing with the rack, a shaft on which the gear is loosely mounted, aratchet on the shaft, and pawls on the gear,

. whereby they are connected in one direction pivoted lever, whereby thepiston is moved in one direction, and the springs for returning it, thesecond valved air-cylinder on the floor of the car, the pipecommunicating with the two air-cylinders, the piston in the secondaircylinder and spring for returning it, the piston-rod provided with arack, the looselymounted gear meshing with the rack, the shaft, and thepawl-andratchet connection between the gear and the shaft, and thechain'pulley and endless chain by which the power is transmitted to theindicating mechanism, all arranged and adapted to operate substantiallyas herein described.

12. In a station-indicator, and in combina, tion with the indicatingmechanism, the means by which it is operated, consisting of the pivotedlever for coming in contact with a fixed lug or obstruction in theroad-bed, a valved air-cylinder on the car-truck, a piston in saidcylinder and having a rod connected with the pivoted lever, whereby thepiston is moved in one direction and the springs for returning it, thesecond valved air-cylinder on the body of the car and communicating withthe other aircylinder, the piston in theseeond cyllnderhav ing a rod, acut-oii' valve and connections for operating it, a spring for returningthe piston, the rack on the piston-rod, and gearing between said rackand the indicator, whereby the latter is operated, substantially asherein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN XV. LYON.

\Vitnesses:

S. H. NoURsn, H. 0. LEE.

